Bloggers For Health: The Pros and Cons of Fitness Classes

A quick little Bloggers For Health post for you today! If your not sure what Bloggers For Health is then click the nifty little button in my sidebar or read my previous post here.
I’d like to talk about the pros and cons of fitness classes. I’ve mentioned before that fitness classes are my preferred method of exercise at the moment and I’m currently doing a mixture of kettlercise, legs, bums and tums (which is cardio mixed with things like lunges, squats, sit ups etc.) and spinning. Fitness classes aren’t for everyone but I’ll talk you through the pros and cons to help anyone whose considering fitness classes make an informed decision.
So first off, the Cons...
1. It can be expensive when compared to free exercise like running or cycling (although you obviously need to initially buy a bike to cycle and some trainers to run!) Some gyms offer a fitness class only membership though that is much cheaper than full membership. This is what I have at my local gym because I hate the actual gym and never use it. I pay £27 a month for unlimited fitness classes. 

Image from All About Money

2. It takes guts to turn up to your first class, especially if your alone! It can be a bit overwhelming when everybody else is familiar with the routines and you’re flailing about like a baby giraffe. One way to combat this is to go with a friend so your can flail together. Alternatively skulk about at the back until you’re more confident and remember that everyone was a newbie at some point! Good instructors will always ask if it’s any one's first class so that they can quickly run through the format of the class with you at the beginning so that you’re not going at it completely blind.

Image from Crushable

3. Fitness classes are on at set times which can make it more difficult to fit them in to your week than going to the gym, doing a fitness video at home or going out for a run or cycle.

Image from Ikea

On to the Pros.....
1. Fitness classes are on at set times! Ha-ha gotcha! If you know that you always have your spin class at 7pm on a Wednesday then you can get yourself into a routine. It becomes part of your week in the same way that always watching your favorite program when it’s on at certain time is. It just becomes what you do on a Wednesday. It’s also much easier to tell yourself that you’ll go for a run “another time”  than to not turn up to a class which you’ve pre-booked and paid for in advance.
2. You can go whatever the weather! Come hail or shine you can go to a fitness class, however it is very difficult to stay motivated to go for a run or a cycle when it’s dark, cold, wet and windy outside.

Image from Go Soft

3. Fitness classes are supervised by an instructor so they can make sure you are performing any exercises correctly preventing injury and making sure you get the most from your work out. They can also tailor the moves to your fitness level by making them easier or harder. Finally, you might not know just how hard you can push yourself and having an instructor there can help you realize that. Many times I’ve thought “I am actually going to die if I don’t stop!” but then if I was about to drop dead because I was pushing too hard, the well trained, qualified, professional instructor would tell me to take it easier surely? So I just keep pushing and guess what? I’m still alive! 

Image from Ace Fitness

4. With a multitude of fitness classes out there you are bound to find something you’ll enjoy. I like anything that make me feel like I can’t move the next day with a good bit of strength training. Some people prefer more cardio based work outs like Zumba. There’s pilates, yoga, step aerobics, boxercise, circuits, body pump, boot camps, bokwa, spinning, kettlercise, the list goes on and on! 

Kettlercise, my fave! Image from Eden Deals

5. The pressure can make you work harder! I personally find that when I feel like I can take any more and then look beside me and see a woman twice my age still giving it her all I think, “Come on Lisa, keep going! If she can still do it so can you!”

So folks, what’s your favorite fitness class? Or do you prefer other forms of exercise?
Lisa x